Mother testifies she was scared to report injuries to children by boyfriend

Wednesday

Aug 28, 2013 at 9:15 PM

A Spartanburg woman testified against the man accused of abusing her then 18-month-old twins and sexually assaulting one child. Asked why she never told police about the bruises on her children, their mother said she was scared.

By KIM KIMZEY kim.kimzey@shj.com

Asked why she never told authorities about the bruises on her young children's bodies, their mother said she was scared and did not know what to do.The 21-year-old Spartanburg woman testified Wednesday against the man accused of abusing her then 18-month-old twins and sexually assaulting one child.Randall Dean Matheny, 27, of Spartanburg has been charged with two counts of child neglect and one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under age 11. Both children were hospitalized with injuries in May 2011.The mother, whose name is being withheld to protect the victims' identities, pleaded guilty earlier this year to two counts of child neglect. She received a 10-year sentence, suspended to five years' probation, and has regained custody of the children. She appeared pregnant when she took the stand Wednesday and testified that she called 911 after one twin became unresponsive on May 26, 2011.Authorities testified the boy had bruises on his head and body, bleeding on the brain, weighed around 18 pounds and had an abscess on his buttock. Suspecting abuse, medical personnel notified the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.While questioning the mother, officers learned the boy had a sister and decided to visit the residence at 1510 Skylyn Drive where her mother and Matheny lived at the time. She also was transported to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center to be examined.A diagram introduced into evidence showed bruises all over her body.An expert in forensic nursing testified that she did a head-to-toe assessment of the girl on May 27, 2011, finding bruises on her head and body, along with vaginal injuries that indicated possible sexual abuse. Matheny told investigators that the girl began bleeding after she was cleaned during a diaper change, according to testimony.The children's mother testified she knew Matheny, who is not the father of the children, about a month before moving in with him in early 2011. They briefly separated before she moved back in with him.She described his relationship with her children in the beginning as "good," but said that changed. The children's mother said Matheny spanked the children on their legs and buttocks and "popped" them in the mouth."I told him he couldn't do that," she said.She claimed after confronting him, Matheny told her the children bruised easily and needed to take vitamins.Asked why she didn't leave Matheny, she replied, "I was scared. I didn't know what to do."She said the day her son was hospitalized, the children had been in the bedroom with Matheny when she heard a loud boom and walked in the room to find her son pale, stiff and unresponsive. She admitted she initially lied to investigators because she felt "scared" and "threatened."Matheny's attorney, public defender Roger Poole, asked why she did not call authorities when she first noticed bruises on the children."I was scared. I didn't know what to do," she said.It was unclear exactly how long she knew about the bruises before her son's hospitalization. She said it could have been two weeks. She said she was unaware of her daughter's vaginal injury.Poole questioned her about fights the couple had, suggesting she wasn't afraid to defend herself against Matheny."Why didn't you take up for your children when you first noticed bruising?" Poole asked.He indicated that she testified against Matheny for leniency. The woman said she also testified for her children.Two witnesses for the state, both of whom are serving prison sentences on unrelated charges, testified they saw Matheny hit the children. Seventh Circuit Assistant Solicitor Susan Reese asked if they had received deals in exchange for their testimony. Both said no.One witness, Eric Lazurick, is serving time for violating probation on a drug offense.Lazurick said he and Matheny had been good friends for several years. Lazurick testified that one day in May 2011 he heard a loud thud, followed by slaps and crying.Lazurick testified that he followed the sound and said he saw Matheny spanking one child with excessive force and confronted Matheny."I told him he was going to stop that … I said no child should be hit like that," Lazurick recounted.Reese asked Lazurick why he testified."No kid should get hurt," Lazurick replied.Sheriff's investigators testified that Matheny provided different stories to explain the children's injuries and his knowledge as to the extent of those injuries.Special Victims Unit Investigator Nicki Cantrell testified that Matheny initially told her the only injuries he knew of were bruises to their heads. Cantrell challenged that after she said Matheny told her he bathed and changed the children's diapers, saying he would have been aware of other injuries. Cantrell said Matheny's explanations did not account for other injuries.